Chaos and Creativity: Writing When Life is Hectic

Drink Coffee. Write. Repeat. It’s the best writing advice. But you already knew that.

One of the best pieces of writing advice I’ve learned is to write every day. But how realistic is that? Everyone is busy and many of us juggle family, career, school, and writing. How often have I heard fellow writers complain that friends or loved ones don’t view their writing as a real job?

Ugh. Too many.

When I attended grad school, we learned some backstory about one of our benefactors, Norman Mailer. Mailer and his wife, Norris (number six, I believe) would part ways after breakfast and head into their respective offices to work on their prose. The children knew never to disturb their parents during “writing time,” as it was sacred, and they would have to wait until dinner to see their parents. Later, the family gathered around the dining room table and talked about—you guessed it—writing. This was a home dedicated to the written word. They valued writing time and knew how important it was to nurture their craft.

Perhaps this is what it takes to achieve a Pulitzer Prize.

But at what cost? What can be sacrificed? There are only 24 hours in a day, and I spend at least an hour of my caffeinated moments browsing social media. An hour exercising. One hour chatting with my fiancé. Three listening to podcasts. And half the day bonding with Frankie, my grand pup.

What can I sacrifice? Certainly not Frankie time. I mean, look at that face! And the podcasts are writing-related. Exercise reduces stress. Social media helps me connect with fellow writers. That only leaves my fiancé.

Just kidding.

There are always ways to weave in time for writing. Some of my parental friends tell me they wake earlier than their families to pound the keyboard before making school lunches and shuffling their kids off to school. Some parents stay up late after the wee ones are in bed. I managed to write the first draft of my novel amid a divorce, selling a home, moving into a new abode, and sharing custody. I’ve heard of dedicated writers who worked through illness and suffering. And I remember a colleague completed a well-written novel—the fourth in her series—while pregnant, working full-time, and managing her husband and two young boys.

Her blood type must be caffeine.

But I also know it’s not healthy to compare, not unless it inspires us to do better. Comparison can be beneficial if it urges us to work harder, strive for success, and learn from our peers. But if it angers, frustrates, or hinders us from moving in a positive direction, it’s no longer healthy. Everyone works at different speeds. I remember the year I trained and then ran in the Ft. Lauderdale half marathon. Midway through, I felt pretty good until I saw someone two decades older than me running “the full.” Instead of cheering them on and keeping my runners high, I faltered. I started questioning why I hadn’t tried for the full.

Looking back now, I see things I missed. Leaving my family for hours to train. All the injuries I incurred—and still sustain. How I left my ex-husband during the race because I was determined to beat my personal best.

Like I said, everything comes at a cost.

And everyone is going through something, something we usually can’t see. People mask their pain behind thinly veiled smiles. People mask pain because they want to spare others. Every day, we humans undergo hardships. It could be anything from battling illness, losing employment, or fighting personal demons. We are shuddering the fallout of the Pandemic, the residuals of fear and suffering, depression, exhaustion, and anxiety. But the good news is, we are healing. Getting back to our routines. Rebuilding our lives with a renewed sense of purpose. The world needs our stories, and writers need to write to connect ourselves with our readers. Whether it comes out in an inspiring memoir, a tropey romance, or a spine-tingling thriller, the world needs your stories, and I need you to find time to write them.

Write every day. A sentence. A paragraph. Whatever you can muster. Find people who encourage you to nurture your craft. Make writing a priority—maybe not as rigid as the late Mr. Mailer’s tactics, but somewhere in between.

And if you ever need inspiration or someone to cheer you along the way, reach out. I’ve been coaching writers on their path toward publication for over 16 years, and I love helping writers achieve their goals.

Until next month, be well and write often.

~ Caryn